Terminal for pneumatic-despatch-tube systems



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. G. BOSTEDO. TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE SYSTEMS. a

No. 597,138. Patented Jan. 11,1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

(No Model.)

I L. G. BOSTEDO. TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE SYSTEMS.

Patented Jan. 11, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rtron.

LOUIS G. BOSTEDO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH-TUBE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,138, dated January 1 1, 1898.

Application filed May 17, 1897. Serial No. 636,975. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS G. Bosrnno, of

Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new This invention relates to pneumatic-des-v patch-tube systems, and more particularly to that part of the system known as a receiving terminal, and has for its object to provide means for automatically controlling the airpressure, so that when the carrier reaches the terminal it will be discharged therefrom with certainty and with a minimum waste of the propelling power.

A further object of the invention is to employ the pressure due to air-compression by the carrier directly upon the piston which actuates the gate or valve, whereby a quicker action is obtained than where the carrierpressure is used to operate valves which in turn control a pressure from other sources than the carrier-pressure for acting upon the piston which operates the gate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a structure embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan section of the sliding gate or valve and its associated parts. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, of a portion of Fig. 1, showing the end gate or valve.

In the said drawings is shown an apparatus of the exhaust type, in which A represents the pump or fan connection, and B the terminal tube, the end of which is adapted to be closed by a gate or valve 0, hinged below to the tube B and inclined, when closed, in the direction of travel of the carrier. This door is held closed and is automatically returned to its closed position by a weak spring c,bearing on its under side, as shown in Fig. 2.

D indicates a sliding gate or valve moving in ways d across the tube B at a point thereof near the exhaust connection A and connected by a piston-rod e with a piston E, mounted in a cylinder E From the outer end of the cylinder F. a tube E, provided with a regulating-valve e, extends to and communicates with the main tube B near the delivery end provided with an air-inlet aperture 2 communicating with the atmosphere. It will be noted that the sliding gate or valve D is of considerable width or thickness, thus presenting an area exposed to the exhaust action of sufficient dimension to cause said exhaust to tend to draw said gate inward across the tube B to close the same.

F indicates a bypass extending from a point in the tube 13 near the outer or dis charge side of the gate D to a point near the delivery end of said tube and provided with a regulating-valve f.

Ways G are provided to receive the carrier as it is discharged from the tube B, and there is provided on the upper or inner side of the door or gate 0 a corresponding way G, forming a continuation of the central way G when said door is lowered, as hereinafter described.

The apparatus thus organized operates in the following manner: The minus pressure in the tube B holds the door 0 closed and through the tube E exhausts the air in the cylinder E outside of the piston E therein, thereby holding the sliding gate or valve D in the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The aperture 111 said cylinder serves to admit the outer air at atmospheric pressure and cause this open position of the valve D. WVhen a carrier passes beyond the valve D in the tube B, this latter being closed at its end by the door 0, there is caused a compression of the air in the said tube between the carrier and the door 0, which would tend to arrest the carrier. Provision is made, however, for a partial equalization of this excess of pressure in front of the carrier by means of the by-pass F and its regulating-valve f. The excess still remaining passes through the tube E to the cylinder E and there produces a pressure -on the outer side of the piston E therein which equalizes or more than equaliz es the atmospheric pressure on the other side-of the said piston.- Since the inner end of the gate presents, as already set forth, a considerable area to the exhaust action in the tube B at this point, the gate or valve D will thereby be closed. This closure of the gate D as soon as the carrier has passed the same relieves the carrier from the retarding influence of the exhaust and insures a sufficient thereof. The inner .end of the cylinder is remainder of momentum to cause the carrier i5 ite ates to strike against the hinged door 0 and, opening the same,v pass out over it upon the Way Gr thereon provided and onto the Ways G, Where it is received by the attendant. The spring 0, while too Weak to present an effectual resistance to the opening of the door 0 by the carrier, is of'sufficient strength to re turn said door to its closed position after the carrier has passed out. closed, the minus pressure in the tube B again returns the valve D to its original open position.

In the construction hereinbefore described the gate or valve D is operated solely by the difierences in pressure on the opposite sides of the piston thereof and by the action of the exhaust on the valve proper. This form is preferred where it is inadvisable to locate the gate and itsoperating mechanism vertically relatively to the tubeas,,for instance, in undergroundstreetwork. Under circumstancesadmitting such a location of the valve, however, it will be seen that the same will be partly operated by gravity, and my invention contemplates sucha construction and operation.

I claim- The door 0 being a cylinder and piston, the cylinder connected on one side of the piston Withthe terminal tube near the delivery-door and on the other side thereof With the atmosphere, and'a.-'gate or valve in the receiving end of the terminal tube operatively connected with, said -piston and presenting a considerable area to .beacted upon by the exhaust action of thevtube,isub stantially as described.

LOUIS GLBOSTEDO.

Witnesses FREDERICK O. Goon-WIN, IRVINE MILLER. 

